Maeshall m



(No Model.)l M. M. WELCH.

BLBGTRICAL CIRCUIT CLOSER.

-- Patented Deo. 20, 1887.

e, C W0 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARSHALL M. WELCH, ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT-CLOSER.

SSPEiC'IFIIJA'I'ION forming part of Letters Patent No. 375,238. dated December 20, 1887.

Application filed September 14, i887. Serial No. 249,682. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARsHALL M. WELCH, a citizen ofl the United States, residing at Atlanta, in the county of Fulton and State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Circuit Glosers; and I do declare the followingto beafull, clear,

and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in circuit-closers, especially designed for use in' signaling on railway-trains, the object being to produce an instrument certain in its action that may be readily attached to the car and will at all times have its contactpoints protected from dust or other matters liable to prevent their perfect action as conductors.

In carrying out iny invention as applied to railway-cars I provide asuitable piece of varnished wood or other poor conducting material to act as asupport for the operative parts of apparatus. This support is secured to the end of a car over the ordinary opening for the passage ofthe bell-cord,and is pierced with a similar opening registering with that in the car. Attached to this support are two mef tallie springs placed diametrically opposite each other, one on each side of the orifice through said support,and connected with each of these springs, preferably by the screws which hold them in place, is an insulated wire, which wires may be brought together at a short distance from the point at which they are attached and slightly twisted together, so as to form Vbut a single cord or a double conductor tinsel-cord with the ends so separated as to be applied, as above described, to the end of which is attached a suitable coupler, by means of which it may be connected with a similar device upon the next car. The inner ends of the springs are turned outward, and

of the car. These springs keep the contactpoints normally a short distance apart; but the arrangement of parts is such that a pull upon the wires or double-conductor tinselcord as they pass through the car brings these points together, thus closing the circuit and allowing the passage of electricity through the insulated wires. To protect the contact-points 6o from dust I inclose them within a light hood ortube of rubber,which fully protects them and at the same time offers little resistance to their movements.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating this invention, Figure l is a sectional view of the ends of two adjoining cars provided with my improved circuit-closer,withthe wires or double tinsel-cord between the cars connected by a suitable coupling. Fig. 2 is aside ele- 7o vation of the circuit-closer, illustrating the general arrangement ofthe several parts. Fig.

3 is a longitudinal section through the contactpoints and their supports. Fig. 4 is aperspective viewof the covering-hood which pro 75 tects the contact-points.

In the figures, A represents the end of a car, and B the snpporting-piece,of a suitable nonconducting material, to which the other parts of the apparatus are connected. Through the 8o middle of this piece B is formed an orifice, which, when the apparatus is in use upon a car, registers with the bell-cord oritce a in the end of the same.

Secured to the piece 13,011 opposite sides of the opening a, by means of screws b and b', are the two curved metallic plate-springs C C. Each of these springs carries at its outer end, and firmly secured thereto, a contact point or block, as D and D. The point D, secured to 9o the spring C, has its inner end excavated to form a conical recess fitted to receive the coned end of the point D when they are brought together. Diametrically through each of these points D and D is bored a hole, c, through which passes one branch of the insulated double-wire cord or double-conductor tinsel-cord E, and in which hole said branch is secured by a set-screw, d. As hereinbefore stated, the normal position of these contact- 10o points is a short distance apart, in which position they are retained'by the elasticity of the curved springs; but when it is desired to bring them together a pull upon the cord E will I cause both points to swing inward toward each other, the springs acting like pivoted arms to allow such a movement, and when in contact they will be thus retained so long as the tension upon the cord E is maintained. The connection is continued through adjacent ears bythe branches of the insulated cord F, which are connected to the springs C and C by means of the screws b, which screws may fulfill the double purpose of securing the wires to the springs and the springs in place.

For the purpose of protecting the contactpoints from dust I encircle each one near its inner end with a groove, c. These grooves receive the corded ends of the hollowr soft-rubber bulb or hood G, which completely ineloses the ends of the points and the space between them. The peculiar form and material of this hood allows it to conform readily to the different positions ofthe points without resisting their movement or releasing the hold of said hood in the grooves, whileit forms a perfect protection to the contact-points against the gathering of dust or other matters upon them which might injure their electrical conductivity.

Having thus described my in vention,I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, the following:

1. In a eircuit-closer,the two contact-points mounted upon curved springs by which they are held normally out of contact, and each connected with one branch of a double insulated wire cord, said cord being arranged and adapted to bring the points in contact when pulled, substantially as specified.

2. In a circuit-closer, the curved springr supported upon a bed having acentral orifice, in combination with the contact-points, one of which is recessed at the end, the other coned to iit said recess, and the double insulated wire cord passing through said orifice in the bed and adapted to bring the points in contact, as set forth.

3. As an improvement in electrical circnitclosers, the combination of the centrally-perforated support, curved spring secured thereto, contact-points carried by said springs, and protecting-hood arranged to cover and protect said points, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signatnrcin presence of two witnesses.

MARSHALL M. VELGH.

IVitnesses:

J. R. ToLLEsoN, IV. XV. RICHARDS. 

